Since 1890, the Old Town – Orono YMCA has been shaped by people whose dedication, generosity, and belief in our cause have made an extraordinary difference. Established in 2026, the Old Town–Orono YMCA’s Order of the Red Triangle recognizes those whose contributions have forever changed the course of our Y.

The Order of the Red Triangle is a permanent distinction reserved for those rare individuals whose extraordinary leadership, service, and commitment have fundamentally changed the trajectory of our organization and left a lasting impact on the broader community. It is not an annual award and membership in the Order is exceptionally selective, recognizing far more than years of service, generosity, or individual accomplishments. It honors those who have truly lived our cause. People who have brought others together, created opportunities where they didn’t previously exist, and helped build a Y that will continue to serve generations they will never meet.

Inaugural Member, Old Town – Orono YMCA Order of the Red Triangle
Inducted October 28, 2026

For more than 50 years, Joe Cyr has been a dedicated friend, volunteer, and supporter of the Old Town – Orono YMCA. Over those decades, he’s worn many hats, always willing to lend a hand, or two, whenever there was work to be done.

Joe’s contributions to our Y have taken many forms. He’s shared his wisdom on financial matters, offered thoughtful guidance during the hiring of new CEOs, and helped find practical solutions to challenges facing the organization. His experience, generosity, and willingness to get involved have helped our Y grow and serve the community. Joe also played an important role in bringing several major facility improvements to life. He helped turn the vision for the Cyr Family Fieldhouse into reality, worked alongside other volunteers to replace the Y’s roof, and helped install the hardwood gymnasium floor salvaged from the former Bangor Auditorium. He also contributed to the creation of the Herbert E. Sargent Family Therapeutic Pool and helped establish an energy fund to address the Y’s long-term energy needs.

Together, Joe and his wife, Sue, have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to our Y and its future. At Sue’s suggestion, the women’s locker room was renovated, and the couple established the Cyr Aquatic Fund through the Old Town – Orono YMCA Foundation, creating a lasting source of support for aquatics at our Y. Their generosity has extended to both the Old Town – Orono YMCA and its Foundation, helping ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from the programs and opportunities they believe in.

But Joe’s contributions go well beyond any individual project or gift. For more than five decades, he has offered his time, experience, and support to an organization he treasures, often working quietly and without seeking recognition. Through his leadership, generosity, and remarkable dedication, Joe has helped shape the Old Town–Orono YMCA we know today and strengthen its future.

Inaugural Member, Old Town – Orono YMCA Order of the Red Triangle
Inducted posthumously October 28, 2026

For Stan Peterson, the Old Town – Orono YMCA was much more than somewhere to volunteer. It was a place where his own family spent time, participated in programs, and became part of the Y community. Stan was a proud Canoe City Swim Club dad and, over the decades, his commitment grew to include service as a dedicated member of the Y’s Board of Directors and volunteer.

Stan believed deeply in preserving our history as a children’s YMCA while ensuring that people of all ages could feel welcome and supported. He believed in getting things done, giving countless hours of his time and lending his skills wherever they were needed. He was instrumental in bringing the Cyr Family Fieldhouse to life, helped install a ramp in the Herbert E. Sargent Family Therapeutic Pool to make the water more accessible, and led the installation of new floors in the Peterson Family Gymnasium, a space that now bears his family’s name.

In 2018, Stan received the statewide 2 Those Who Care Award for his volunteer service. When asked why he volunteered, he said, “I think volunteering is about touching lives and they touch you back and that’s all the thank you I need.”

Those who knew Stan remember a thoughtful, generous man with an infectious smile and an unmatched sense of humor. He never sought recognition for his work, preferring to lend a hand and quietly watch others enjoy the results. Stan’s contributions remain part of everyday life at our Y. Children play in the Fieldhouse, swimmers enjoy the pool, and families come together in the gymnasium because of the work he made possible. His example also lives on through the Stan Peterson Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing others who share his unwavering commitment to serving our community and making our Y a place where generations of families can Enjoy Life, feel safe and supported, and know they belong.

Inaugural Member, Old Town – Orono YMCA Order of the Red Triangle
Inducted posthumously October 28, 2026

Long before Herbert E. Sargent became a successful businessman, community leader, and one of the Old Town–Orono YMCA’s most dedicated supporters, he was a young boy growing up in rural Alton, Maine.

As his daughter Calista shared with the Maine Community Foundation in 2019, Herb grew up where opportunities to spend time with other children were limited. He knew firsthand how meaningful those friendships could be. Calista recalled that her “[Dad] believed in happy and safe and friendly places for young people to congregate.” For Herb, the YMCA represented exactly that kind of place.

His relationship with our Y began in the 1940s, when he joined the Board of Directors. What followed was nearly six decades of leadership, friendship, and service. Herb shared his time and experience, supported organizations he believed in, and worked to make his community a better place. He also understood the importance of planning for the future. In 1990, Herb helped establish the Old Town–Orono YMCA Foundation, creating a lasting source of support that continues to strengthen our Y today. His legacy is also reflected in our Herbert E. Sargent Family Therapeutic Pool, which opened in 1995 and has since welcomed generations of families and community members, including thousands of children learning essential swimming and water safety skills.

Behind Herb’s many contributions was a genuine desire to make life better for the people around him. As his daughter Marvia once said, Herb was “a very generous person who didn’t advertise his giving.” That quiet generosity, combined with his leadership and foresight, helped shape the Y we know and love today and the young boy who understood the importance of friendship and belonging grew up to help create those opportunities for generations of others.